"You are still as unlucky as ever, huh, little brother." Seela teased me with a smirk after seeing my pairing for the next match.
I smiled with a bitter expression.
Really, to think that I was going to be paired against that monster so soon.
Looks like here is where I'm eliminated.
"Good luck." Seela patted my shoulder as the teacher called me to go up the stage. "Do your best."
"I know. Don't worry, I'm not going to lose so easily."
"Go for it, big brother! You can win!" Lina cheered me encouragingly, making me smile softly.
"I'll try."
I shrugged.
When I reached the stage, Sila was already waiting for me.
The number one student of this year looked at me fixedly, her eyes furrowed slightly as though thinking about something.
I also looked at her while thinking about my strategy.
Honestly, my odds are not very good. Unlike me, Sila has already surpassed the natal realm and formed her core, becoming a pawn.
It means that unlike me, she is already a professional.
The difference between a professional and a normal human is not small. Having a core means a greater mana capacity and stronger output, moreover, after forming the core, the body gradually becomes stronger, surpassing normal humans in all aspects.
The level and direction of the enhancement vary depending on the profession and the technique used to create the core, but any kind of enhancement puts her way above me when it comes to basic stats.
Sila's profession is [Witch], a spell-based profession. It means that her growth is mainly in the direction of mental strength and mana.
Witches can only be females. They form their core in their brains, and when forming it, they engrave a basic rune inside it, granting them a considerable boost in the casting speed and power of the spells derived from this rune.
In exchange, they can only use this kind of spell. A witch that engraves a fire rune in their core can only use fire-type spells, and a witch that engraves an ice rune in their core can only use ice-type spells.
As for Sila, according to my knowledge, she engraved a very special rune in her core.
[Negation].
The basic function of this rune is to 'reverse and counter phenomenon'.
Just from the name, you can get an idea about how powerful this rune is.
However, runes like this have a drawback.
There are not that many spells derived from this rune, and it's worse in the earlier stages.
Any other witch would be stumped by this problem, only being able to use two or three spells at most; but Sila is the disciple of the Undying Calamity, one of the seven kings. She must have access to more spells than others.
Even so, the number of spells she knows can't be that many.
It's just a guess, but right now, Sila should only be able to use five or six spells at most.
If I want to have a chance to win against her, I can only try to use that against her.
If I somehow manage to get her to use all her spells without being defeated, and decipher her battle style using that knowledge, I may have a chance to win.
It's just a chance, though.
'Honestly, I doubt it will be that easy.'
Well, I'll just do my best. In reasonable limits, of course.
"Are you ready?" Professor Melissa looked at us and asked.
I took a deep breath and nodded, while Sila just remained silent.
The professor moved her gaze between us and signaled the start of the battle.
"Start."
I decided to stick to the strategy I thought of before. Instead of attacking, I'll wait for her to attack first while studying her spells and her style of battle, and trying to find an opening.
But to my surprise, Sila did not attack either.
Instead, she continued looking at me and furrowing her brows.
"… Have we met anywhere else before?" She finally asked after a while.
I put on a confused expression.
"… Not that I remember."
"Is it so? Strange… I feel you are familiar, but I can't put a finger on why."
'How sharp.' I thought to myself while making sure not to reveal anything in my expression.
"That is really an outdated way to hit on someone." I teased with a soft smile, making Sila frown with a cold expression.
"… Doesn't matter. I'm sure I'll remember if it's important."
With these words, she extended her right hand towards me.
Immediately, I felt mana gathering on her hand as she activated a spell.
In the next instant, I felt a powerful pressure descend towards me.
I was shocked.
I didn't notice any trace of runes or magic circles. It was as though she activated her spell with just a thought.
'How fast is her casting speed!?'
I hurriedly circulated mana around my body to resist, but it did not have that much effect.
'What kind of spell is this? Increased gravity? No, it doesn't match her rune. What then?'
Gritting my teeth, I roared, releasing a burst of mana, finally breaking free.
However, Sila just looked at me indifferently, casting the same spell again.
It's clear that she is not taking me seriously. Most likely, she doesn't think I can threaten her in any way.
This time, though, I managed to get an idea of the structure of her spell.
'It should be a spell that reverses the flow of mana in a certain area, creating an immobilizing effect. Judging from its complexity, it should be a second-circle spell.'
I let out a dry laugh in my mind.
I was surprised when my sister used a second-circle spell during our battle, and here this girl is using second-circle spells casually like nothing.
As expected of the number one. Her skills are not joke.
However, this could be an opportunity.
Now that I have an idea of the structure of her spell, I should be able to counter it.
Perhaps, this battle is not as impossible as I thought.
Using direct interference, I tried to tweak with the structure of her spell.
I quickly realized how much harder it was compared to when I used this method against Lina. Sila's mana was much denser, increasing the difficulty of interfering with her spell exponentially.
'This is why direct interference is not good at higher levels.'
Fortunately, I barely managed to achieve the desired effect, making her spell much easier to resist. Then, before she could react. I kicked the ground and charged towards her.
My goal was just one. To deliver one blow while she is still underestimating me, and if possible, to finish this match right now.
In just an instant, I appeared before her.
Without hesitating, I brandished my sword, aiming for her neck to finish this battle with a move.
Sila opened her eyes wide in disbelief. She could only watch as my sword pierced towards her neck.
Unfortunately–
*Clang!*
The attack never landed.
Just before reaching her neck, it was abruptly stopped.